THE rising cost of living will see many families cut back drastically on the amount of food they buy this Christmas.

According to a survey by One Poll, the average Briton will be spending £143 on Christmas groceries, 46 per cent less than last year’s total of £264. The over-55s are expected to make the biggest cut to their food bill, 50 per cent, as disposable incomes dwindle because of rising household costs.

Duncan Jennings, co-founder of discounting website VoucherCodes.co.uk, which analysed the research, said: “Household incomes are being stretched more than ever before, with rising fuel and mortgage costs crippling disposable incomes.

Families are looking to cut back where they can this Christmas and reducing groceries spending is an obvious way to do this

Duncan Jennings of VoucherCodes.co.uk

“With this in mind it comes as no surprise that families are looking to cut back where they can this Christmas and reducing groceries spending is an obvious way to do this.” Forty-one per cent of those questioned said their groceries bill would remain high because they will be feeding more ­people who cannot afford to pay for their own meals.

Many retailers are calling for Sunday trading hours to be extended on December 23 so shops can cope with expected late demand.